Page 50 - Indian, Himalaya and Asian Art Bonhams Setp 2015
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KATHMANDU VALLEY PRESERVATION TRUST
THE DAMAGE TO NEPAL’S HERITAGE
Art connoisseurs and architects have long In addition to traumatic humanitarian losses, the
appreciated the architectural treasures of the extent of the damage to monuments throughout
Kathmandu Valley, whose 20-mile-square the Valley is so vast that it is still being surveyed
area is home to seven UNESCO World months later. As Niels Gutschow noted a few
Heritage Sites. Following Niels Gutschow’s days after the earthquake, “The Nepalese
2011 encyclopedic work, “Architecture of the people have lost a piece of their soul, and the
Newars”, Newar building styles and typologies destruction of so many temples and shrines left
finally took their rightful place among the great even the gods homeless”
world schools of architecture.
A further concern is that many traditional buildings
But the Valley’s historic architecture is more than that withstood the tremors will either be torn
just an artistic wonder: it is an integral part of down out of fear they are too weak, or disfigured
living traditions and a vital economic engine by well-intentioned structural reinforcement. The
for the nation. Trust will repair damaged buildings, in addition
to advocating for and developing techniques to
reduce the threat of future damage.
48 | BONHAMS
